Python for Embedded Systems?

[Cameron Laird]

Re: Python for Embedded Systems?

In article <n72dnUxdH493tS TZnZ2dnUVZ_oydn Z2d@comcast.com >,
Jack <nospam@invalid .comwrote:

>Yes, I mean Lua, not Loa :-p
>
>Lua is a nice language. Like you said, it doesn't have many libraries
>as Python does. Plus, it's still evolving and the libraries are changing.
>I found a few functions not working last time I tried kepler libraries.
>It's good for embedded systems though because of its small footprint.
>Extensions implemented in C makes it possible that the installation size
>doesn't blow up when new stuff is added, like in Python.
>
>But I still like Python better for its power and for the style of the
>language
>itself. And I was hoping to find a Python implementation that bears the
>principles of Lua to make it suitable for embedded systems :)
>

>>PHP may fit but I don't quite like the language. Anything else?
>>Loa is small but it does not seem to be powerful enough.

>

>>You mean Lua ? Not powerful enough ? What do you mean by
>>that ? Lua is great IMHO. Sure it does not come with thousands
>>of libraries, but the language design is extremely clean, the
>>language constructs powerful and the footprint very small.

>

>>16kloc of C code can't hurt your embedded device can they ? ;)

>

>>Please tell us what kind of limitation you find in Lua ...

[Cameron Laird]

Re: Python for Embedded Systems?

In article <mailman.8181.1 152898758.27775 .python-list@python.org >,
Carl J. Van Arsdall <cvanarsdall@mv ista.comwrote:

[Paul Rubin]

Re: Python for Embedded Systems?

claird@lairds.u s (Cameron Laird) writes:

Yes and no. Python could thrive for the next decade while
utterly surrendering the small-and-embedded domain to Forth,
Lua, Tcl, Scheme, and so on, so, no, there's no *need* for a
TinyPython. On the other hand, yes, there are at least several
of us with an interest and occasional opportunities for Python
in such applications.

I think we should see what happens with PyPy, which might be easier to
target at embedded platforms than CPython is. Main thing needed would
be a static compiler--I haven't followed PyPy enough to know if it
relies on having Psyco at runtime.

[Cameron Laird]

Re: Python for Embedded Systems?

In article <7x3bd21kry.fsf @ruckus.brouhah a.com>,
Paul Rubin <http://phr.cx@NOSPAM.i nvalidwrote:

>claird@lairds. us (Cameron Laird) writes:

>Yes and no. Python could thrive for the next decade while
>utterly surrendering the small-and-embedded domain to Forth,
>Lua, Tcl, Scheme, and so on, so, no, there's no *need* for a
>TinyPython. On the other hand, yes, there are at least several
>of us with an interest and occasional opportunities for Python
>in such applications.

>
>I think we should see what happens with PyPy, which might be easier to
>target at embedded platforms than CPython is. Main thing needed would
>be a static compiler--I haven't followed PyPy enough to know if it
>relies on having Psyco at runtime.

PyPy indeed presents exciting prospects.

[Martin v. Löwis]

Re: Python for Embedded Systems?

Carl J. Van Arsdall wrote:

This raises a good question. Is there a need for python to change
somewhat to work better in an embedded profile?

When I asked this question last on python-dev, there was exactly one
response, and that was "yes, it needs to change".

The natural question then is "in what way?". To this, the answer
was surprising: It needs better support for cross-compilation.
Apparently, cross-compiling Python is very painful, and I guess
cross-compiling distutils-based packages even more so.

Contributions in that direction are welcome.

Regards,
Martin

[Petr Jakeš]

Re: Python for Embedded Systems?

JIs there a Python packaging that is specifically for
Jembedded systems? ie, very small and configurable so the
Juser gets to select what modules to install?

JFor Linux-based embedded systems in particular?

JI'm thinking of running it on the Linksys's Linux-based open
Jsource router WRT54G. It has 4MB flash and 16MB RAM. I think
Janother model has 16MB flash. Any possibilities of running
JPython on these systems?

You can run Python on the NSLU2 (Slug)

http://www.nslu2-linux.org/

sw packages:

http://www.nslu2-linux.org/wiki/Unslung/Packages

the best (IMHO) firmware:

http://www.nslu2-linux.org/wiki/DebianSlug/HomePage